Owensboro, Ky. – The #23 Malone University Pioneers (16-2, 10-0) returned to action on the road against Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) foe, the Panthers of Kentucky Wesleyan College (9-7, 5-6). The nationally-ranked Pioneers extended their win streak to 11 with a 72-57 triumph on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Pioneers trailed 13-11 in a closely contested first quarter. Malone opened the second quarter with a bang as guard Kyli Horn nailed a three-pointer as the Pioneers looked to shift the momentum with a 14-13 lead. Malone continued to light it up from deep with seven threes in the quarter, led by Brooklyn Troyer with three. Despite the Pioneers' hot three-point shooting, the Panthers continued to claw their way through the quarter and kept the score close at 36-31 at the half.
 
The third period saw junior Erin Kaufman get going from the inside. She scored 10 points in the quarter, four of those baskets in the paint. Malone was able to put together a 22-6 run to end the quarter with an 18-point lead, 59-41.
 
The Pioneers carried their third quarter run into the fourth as they capped off their big second half on a 33-13 run. Their largest lead of the game was 20 at 70-50 in the Owensboro Sportscenter. Kentucky Wesleyan scored late, but never managed to get closer than the 15-point final score.
 
Troyer led the Pioneers with 19 points on six three-point field goals. Kaufman had 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Malone flexed their muscles on the boards at 42-25. Kaufman's three offensive boards helped win the second chance points 16-6.
 
In the win, the Pioneers extended their G-MAC winning-streak to 10 with the big conference road win. Malone will return to Osborne Hall for the Breast Cancer Awareness Game as they host Lake Erie College on Thursday, January 30, at 5:30 P.M.